Sports

Cincinnati Pitcher Unleashes Profane But Justified Rage On Umpire After Surrendering 460-Foot Bomb

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Getty Image / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Reds pitcher Pierce Johnson cussed at an umpire after an Esmerlyn Valdez home run.


Cincinnati Reds pitcher Pierce Johnson was not happy with the officiating crew during a disappointing outing against the rival Pittsburgh Pirates. He unleashed a profanity-laced tirade on an umpire after surrendering a long home run to Esmerlyn Valdez.

Johnson’s reaction was unhinged but justified. He should’ve had a strikeout. Instead, he wound up with a scratch on his pitching line.

He let the umpire hear about his displeasure after the bomb. That response quickly went viral following a 9-4 Cincinnati loss.

Esmerlyn Valdez hit a 460-foot home run.

That no-doubter came in the bottom of the eighth inning. It provided an exclamation point to a convincing Pittsburgh victory. It also capped an awful outing for Pierce Johnson.

The reliever recorded just two outs while allowing four runs on two hits. Both of those hits left the yard. Johnson also walked a pair of batters. It was an all-around miserable day.

He entered the game with the Reds trailing 5-4. By the time he left, the outcome was all but decided.

Valdez’s home run travelled 461 feet to left centerfield. He had no issue leaving the deepest part of the ballpark. He cleared the fence with 50 feet to spare.

Valdez went 3-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. It was the perfect ending to a productive day at the dish. He was aided by a missed call in his final at-bat, much to Johnson’s dismay.

Pierce Johnson lost his cool.

The performance was clearly frustrating for the pitcher. He had control issues. He simply couldn’t find the zone, and when he did, it usually ended poorly.

With that said, he appeared to have Esmerlyn Valdez dead to rights one pitch before the home run. Johnson got him to offer at a delivery in the dirt. Valdez couldn’t hold up.

Not having a clear view of the play, the home plate umpire appealed to first base. His crew member ruled, incorrectly, that Valdez checked his swing. A freeze frame shows that the slugger went around.

MLB.TV

Esmerlyn Valdez checks his swing on a pitch from Pierce Johnson.


It would’ve been the third strike of the at-bat. A ball was ruled instead. Valdez got second life, and he took advantage.

Johnson responded by cussing out the umpire. He would eventually get out of the inning. Unfortunately, the damage had been done.

Esmerlyn Valdez’s home run had no impact on the final score. The Pirates would’ve won without it. That did not make it any less frustrating for Pierce Johnson.